Tocilizumab

Hi I'm going to Cuba in 6 weeks and looking for some advise. I take tocilizumab injections once a week and they are stored in the fridge, I'm not sure how to transport my medication and store it in Cuba. It's a 10 hour flight.

Thanks in advance

[Pat9442]

I tried to take it once to the Caribbean. Nightmare! OK, so you can buy an I lol bag and it will be fine on the flight. But hotel fridges are not cold enough, not even to freeze cold packs for bag. Mine ended up in the hotel kitchen fridge. But I never knew if it was the right temp. I decided next time to forgo the injections for a week. Have one the day before you go and have one ready for the day you get home

[Pat9442 in reply to Pat9442]

That should say iCool bag

[KittyJ]

There have been past posts about this if you use the search box and filter for NRAS they will come up. Here’s one to start with, not about your drug but could be helpful. Check your patient information leaflet for exact needs for storing your meds. healthunlocked.com/nras/pos...

[Ozzy]

I am going to Madeira next month and I will take my injection a day early and one day late when I return. I went to China a few years ago with the tocs in a medical bag in the original packaging with a letter to say that it needed to be kept cold. It was a bit of a nightmare going through security at Heathrow as I had to open everything up and then wait. They said why not put it in the hold but as the temperate changes not the best option. I eventually got through but you must make sure that the ice packs are completely frozen. I used disposable gel packs from tescos. No problems at all in China

[bpeal1]

Check with the pharmacy that supplies it. I’m not sure what the requirements are for toczilizumab but adalimumab is fine out of the fridge for 2 weeks so we don’t bother trying to keep my daughter’s refrigerated when we go away. However, in the Caribbean you would need an air conditioned room. The supplying pharmacy should also be able to provide you with a letter for the airport / customs.

[Silverpixie]

I'm on tocilizumab and went to Japan and then on to Hong Kong. I have a medigenix bag and it was fine from home to Heathrow and then Hong Kong but I had 4 hours in Hong Kong and then 4 hour flight to Japan. It went over 8 degrees as I waited at Hong Kong airport. I really don't know what the answer is. I toured Japan and it was difficult as hotel room fridges don't freeze the ice packs etc. I think that the one injection I took with me was useless. - I wasn't quite right when i returned. I'd like to go to Australia but this is proving a massive obstacle

[Living-in-the-moment]

Hi much the same answer as others. I was frustrated at the airport when my cool bag was opened and examined thereby allowing the temperature of the drugs to climb, they didnt go back to the desired temperature again and so for the whole journey they were not cool enough. I really think the answer is, don't go for too long. Sorry. You would think someone, somewhere could sort this out for us!

[Hollyhock123]

I’m on Benepali and tried once but too much extra hassle. So now I nudged my days along so I take it on the departure day then as soon as I get back. Takes some planning though! And I find occasionally I’m ok if I miss a dose.

[Paisley58]

When I was on tocil I traveled to the Caribbean with the injections. I got a letter from my GP. I then the night before my flight I filled the cooler bag with water and put it to sit in the freezer. Also put 6 freezer blocks in the freezer. Just before I was leaving I removed the block of ice from the cooler bag, but 2cooler blocks in the bottom,add injections and packed the rest of the blocks around it. Put the whole thing in another cooler until it I was time to go through, I took the cooler bag out and I was surprised it worked but I arrived and the injections were still cold.

Enjoy your time in Cuba!🏖️☀️